Category: Torah on Tefillin and Mezuzot

Torah Discussions about Tefilin, Mezuzot, Megilot, Sifrey Torah

What’s Written Inside The Black Boxes of Tefillin? Firstborn

Posted on by Gindi

INSIDE TEFILLIN – FIRSTBORN

And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break its neck

וכל פטר חמר תפדה בשה ואם לא תפדה וערפתו

Tefillin has redeeming the first born donkey
Tefillin has redeeming the first born donkey

The Torah commands us, in the Perashiot that we don in our Tefillin every day, to redeem all of the Jewish firstborn boys. These are written in the Second Perasha of  the Tefillin. At the same time we are commanded to give all kosher first-born animals as a sacrifice to G-d. Most un-kosher animals are exempt from being given to G-d. However, A firstborn donkey must be exchanged for a lamb that is given to the Kohen. The lamb does not need to be sacrificed. The firstborn donkey’s neck is cracked, if for some reason the donkey is not exchanged for a lamb. (Shemot 13)

Redeem the Donkey in tefillin
Redeem the Donkey in Tefillin

Many people daily ponder this concept, which they tie upon themselves daily. However, many do not. The stated reason in the Torah regarding the firstborn is to remember slavery and exodus from Egypt. The greatest plague that G-d brought on Egypt was the death of firstborn Egyptians. This is a central episode in the story of the Jews leaving Egypt. The story of leaving Egypt itself is central to Judaism.

When we daily put on Tefillin we also remember leaving Egypt. This is part of “Kabalat ol Malchut Shamayim – Accepting the yoke of Heaven”

 

Firstborn male children who are to be redeemed need to be firstborn from their mother. A father needs to redeem every firstborn that different women might bear with five silver coins.

The firstborn Jews were supposed to have been holy to G-d like the Kohanim. The reason for this is due to the killing of the Egyptian firstborn. However, the firstborn were exchanged for the Kohanim. This was done one for one. There were exactly 22000 Kohanim and 22273 firstborn. The extra firstborn needed to exchange themselves with 5 silver coins, as we are commanded to do with each firstborn. (Bamidbar 3)

Tefillin2

Another reason that is discussed about laws of sacrificing firstborn kosher animals and redeeming people and donkeys is related to the Bikurim – First fruits. Each individual also brings these to the Bet Hamikdash in a fancy ceremony.

It has been discussed by Our Rabbis of Blessed Memory as to why the donkey is singled out, over all other un-kosher animals, to need redemption. Rashi states these opinions, first, that The Egyptian firstborn were compared to donkeys. The second reason is because every Jew who left Egypt took lots of donkeys that carried tons of cash and gold that was taken from the Egyptians.

mailto:steve@gindi.co.il

 

Tefillin, Mezuzot and Megilat Esther – Are They Really Kosher ?

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Shalom,Rabbi Steve Bar Yakov Gindi

Now is the time to order Tefillin for your son’s Bar Mitzvah, Mezuzot and Megilat Esther. This year is a leap year, very many people order Megilot Esther. Call 00972544572366 or email steve@milknhoney.co.il

Our Torah website http://torah.milknhoney.co.il/ has been redesigned. You can find hundreds of Divrey Torah Discussions there.

You can see samples of my Sofer Stam work at https://milknhoney.co.il/gallery3/

For many years you  have been taught to be very careful about from whom you purchase Tefillin, Mezuzot,  Megilat Esther and Sifrey Torah from. They say ninety-nine percent kosher equals one hundred percent passul (not kosher)

I am often called upon to check people’s Tefillin. I and the honest Sofrim that I know  rarely find Tefillin that aren’t kosher!  When I have found Tefillin that are unkosher they are always over 30 years old, written before the Jewish world became more careful in these issues. Indeed, thrity years ago all the honest sofrim would not charge people for checking Tefillin. This is because it was pretty guaranteed that they were clearly not kosher. Today an honest Sofer will always charge to check Tefillin. Sewing up the modern Gassot Tefillin in a manner that will look nice, in the same condition received is a lot of work. So much so that I, personally, contract someone else to sew and seal them.

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History of the Bar-Mitzvah – Tefillin, Aliyah, Mitzvot

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Tefillin

 

“A youngster who knows how…to care for Tefillin his father [should] give him Tefillin.” Traditionally this was the practice, however, Tefillin has a special rule that a child must not only understand the importance of the mitzvah of Tefillin but he must keep himself very clean and can not pass gas while he is wearing them. Therefore educating a child to wear Tefillin is at an older age than education of other mitzvot, some have even done away with educating a youngster and prevent them from wearing Tefillin until the day of their Bar-Mitzvah.

The above source is cited by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the Shulchan Aruch and explains that care for Tefillin means that he should not sleep while wearing them and will not pass gas  The Ramah adds from the Itur that a “youngster” here is one who is 13 years and one day. He adds that such is the custom and none should differ. The Mishna Brurah adds that before this time he certainly can not properly watch his Tefillin.

Rivkindcommented on this trend with regards to the singular opinion of Itur and the decision of the Mishna Brurah that the Magen Avraham said that still many are accustomed to teach a child to wear Tefillin several months early. Rivkind further says that people who are pious follow the custom to don Tefillin on the day that a child is Bar-Mitzva. This obviously only applies to Ashkenazim, the Sephardic customs will be discussed.

According to Rivkind Moroccans celebrate Bar-Mitzvahs at twelve years old. He goes on to say that this is indeed a kosher custom a cites several interesting sources. I have personally never seen or heard about such a custom and those Moroccans I have asked said that they never heard of such a thing.

In Jerusalem the custom is that from when a child is ten his father teaches him about Tefillin, if he can properly take care of them Others are accustomed to teach a child to wear Tefillin several months before he turns thirteen. On this day the feast would be made like the feast of wedding.  Keter Shem Tob adds that if the family is wealthy they make an additional feast when the lad is exactly thirteen. I personally grew up knowing nothing other than this custom: that Tefillin are donned several months before and all of the feasts are done then. This was traditionally called “Yom HaTefillin” – The day of Tefillin, while the actual thirteenth birthday was called “Yom Hashlamat Haminyan” – the day of completing a quorum.

I have seen only one family of old Jerusalemites which purchased Tefillin for a child of ten. They purchased a simple pair of Tefillin with the intention of buying a nice pair for the Bar-Mitzva. They did not make a great feast.

Continue reading “History of the Bar-Mitzvah – Tefillin, Aliyah, Mitzvot” →

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Inside Tefilin – Shema Yisrael Unity and Education

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Inside Tefilin – Shema Yisrael Unity and Education Vaetchanan

Shema Yisrael A-donai E-loheynu A-donai Echad.

Shma Yisrael
The prayer of Shema Yisrael is a universal declaration of the Unity of  G-d. Each Jewish person declares to his friend that G-d is One.

The prayer of Shema Yisrael is a universal declaration of the Unity of  G-d. Each Jewish person declares to his friend that G-d is One. This is like saying, Hey! Jewish people, The G-d, who created the universe is our G-d and He is One. The concept of universally declaring this concept demonstrates the centrality of education. We need to teach it to our children and regularly ponder it ourselves.

The prayer of Shema Yisrael is written in the Torah in the book of
Devarim, Ch. 6 4. There is an oft-quoted Midrash from the Sifri on
this. The Sifri mostly contains halachic discussions, however, on this pasuk the discussion is very Aggadic. In other words it tells us a story about the prayer of Shema Yisrael.

Rabbi Akiva says that the prayer of Shema Yisrael refers to Yisrael,
Yisrael being another name for Yaakov Avinu, and not to Avaraham or Yitzhak. The reason is that Avraham and Yitzhak had children who were waste products. Avraham had Yishmael; Yitzhak Esav. Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai totally disagrees with this interpretation.

The Midrash further states that Yaakov constantly worried that one of his children will be a waste, like some of his fathers€ children. He constantly prayed and educated his twelve boys in the ways of G-d. He was especially concerned when he learned that his son Reuven had slept with his concubine / maid Bilhah. He then learned that Reuven had repented through fasting and prayers.

Yaakov Avinu was on his deathbed in Egypt. He called in his sons one by one and rebuked them. After this he called them all in together and asked them, Do you have any issues with the One whose statement created the universe? They answered, Listen Yisrael our father, just as you do not have anything against G-d neither do we have such an issue, rather G-d is our L-ord and he is One. Yaakov was very thankful at this unified statement by his sons, including Reuven, as to the absolute Unity of G-d.

One cannot determine whether this Midrash has any historical value. However, it seems to make clear statements regarding the
interconnection between the unity of the Jewish people in their total acceptance that G-d is One. As a side note it points out that even if people are not perfect they can always repent. Since G-d is One there is no bureaucracy in heaven in accepting anyone€s repentance.

Yaakov’s constant effort, worry and prayers helped to educate and
unify his children in their acceptance that G-d is One.

The Pasuk of Shema Yisrael is followed by several Pesukim that tell us that we need to internalize the Unity of G-d and to teach it to our
children and constantly ponder Him.

Spiritual Torah Discussions on Tefillin

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For Questions about Tefillin Whatsapp message to  +972544572366

Discussions on Tefillin

I personally write the Perashiot – parchments of Tefillin and sell complete sets. As a new service I offer Sessions via Internet video chat that connect boys celebrating their Bar Mitzva with the central mitzvah of Tefillin. This Set of Tefillin and the program “The Spirit of Bar Mitzvah” is available to anyone, especially those not living near Jerusalem.

Via video chat we have two sessions. The second session is after delivery of the Tefillin package which includes a beautiful set of Tefillin, a feather Kulmus pen, some Sofer ink, blank parchment.

For over 25 years I have written the perashiot of Tefillin for Bar Mitzva. I have also taught many kids to connect with Torah and the spiritual connection that Tefillin ties them to.

Local kids from Jerusalem attend the “Tefillin Workshop” program which includes participating in producing the Tefillin.